CHAPTER VIII.

Dick's Letter.

HAPPY days followed for the Bannister children and their friend Dick. There were trips on the sea, picnics on shore, and rambles in the woodlands and meadows. In nearly all their pleasures, Mr. Charlton had a share, and the youngsters little guessed how largely they were contributing to the enjoyment of his holiday.

Before he left Hazlenook, he had the pleasure of presenting the little authoress with a cheque for her story and sketches, with a promise that they should appear in due time in the magazine.

Eileen's pride and delight knew no bounds, and the cheque, which was promptly cashed, swelled the amount which was already in the mortgage-box in quite a handsome fashion.

It was on a certain sunny afternoon in September that Mr. Charlton very regretfully bade good-bye to his young friends, for friends they had become now in very truth.

"We seem to have known you for ever so long, Mr. Charlton," said Eileen, on the way to the railway station.

The Bannister boys and girls, and Dick also, had arranged to give him a good send-off.

"We shall miss you ever so much; you have been most awfully good to us, and we shan't forget it." And so said Nora, who was walking by Eileen's side.

The three boys were just at this moment a few steps behind.

"You have done as much for me as I have for you," replied Mr. Charlton, "and perhaps more."

"I don't see how that's possible," replied Eileen; "I only wish that there was something you 'specially' wanted that we could do for you."

Mr. Charlton's face looked serious—his thoughts had travelled far away.

"There is something," said he presently, "that I 'very' specially want, but it's nothing that any of you could do for me."

At this moment the boys chanced to overtake them, and the conversation became general.

Mr. Charlton was not sorry, for Eileen had unconsciously awakened sad memories. However, he soon cast all troubled thoughts aside, and entered into the children's chat with the usual ready interest he had shown in all they did.

Upon their arrival at the station, Dick looked so glum that Mr. Charlton seized an opportunity to have a few words alone with him.

"Cheer up, Dick, old man," said he kindly, knowing that the boy was feeling rather badly about the parting; "it isn't good-bye for ever, you know."

"I know that," mumbled Dick gruffly, for Mr. Charlton had promised that he would pay Hazlenook another visit at his earliest opportunity, "but you don't know how I shall miss you, sir. You've been such a real good friend to me."

"And I shall miss you too—all of you," said Mr. Charlton. "You won't forget, Dick, my boy," he added in an undertone, "the little chat we had together, you and I, about your Captain, and mine—remember He is always within call."

The boy flushed as he answered, "I won't forget, sir."

Here came a discussion about the luggage, and a few minutes later Mr. Charlton took his seat in the train. And after repeated good-byes and many hand-shakes, he was carried away towards the busy city, refreshed and strengthened for work again.

That self-same evening Dick sat down to write a long letter to his parents in India, a letter which was destined to help the Bannister family more than he knew. He began:

"DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,—

"I've got such a lot to tell you, that I scarcely know what is the best thing to say first.

"I'm ever so much happier here than I thought I should be. Uncle Nat is a lot kinder than he looks, and his bark is worse than his bite.

"And, besides this, I have made friends with the Bannister family, who live near by at The Gables. I like them ever so much. They are saving up money towards paying off a mortgage which is on their house. I only wish I could help them: do you think I can?

"If it isn't paid by Christmas, they will have to leave their pretty house, and they will feel it so.

"Next week school begins; and as Teddy and Frank Bannister go to the same school, Chelsford College, as I am going to, I expect we shall have some ripping times.

"The girls, Eileen and Nora, begin school on the same day. Their teacher is our head master's daughter. They are all just like my brothers and sisters, and often, when I am not at the Bannister's house, they are up here at The Laurels, and Uncle Nat seems to like it—"

Next followed details of the lad's life, the letter closing with a glowing account of Mr. Charlton, to whom Dick's boyish heart had gone out in affection.

[Illustration: DICK SAT DOWN TO WRITE A LONG LETTER TO HIS PARENTS.]

After this, the lengthy epistle was folded and put into an envelope and posted.

Several happy weeks of school life passed away, and the half-term's holiday drew near. Frank had now given up his soldiering on the village green, much to the old shoemaker's regret, and, with Teddy and Dick, had joined the Boy Scouts. He still treasured, however, the three stripes given to him by Henderson, and the two were as good friends as ever, the old man having a chat with him when he passed that way.

The boys had made so many arrangements with their fellow Scouts for the half-term, that but for the fact that Eileen and Nora had been invited to London to spend the short holiday with a relative, Miss Silver by name, they would have felt considerably out of it.

As it was, they were highly delighted, for never before had they stayed in town. Indeed they felt quite adventurous when the time came for them to take their journey. At Hazlenook Station they were placed in the care of the guard. Miss Silver—or Cousin Margaret, as they called her—had promised to meet them at Liverpool Street. So Mrs. Weston had no anxiety whatever on their behalf.